Research
and Development Gaps
Lack of
Appropriate Machinery. The mismatch between available
mechanization technologies and farmers’ need and farm conditions
stems from inadequate need assessment. Failure to identify the
actual needs of the farmers results in non utilization of
machines.
The influx of
second hand imported machinery in the country is becoming
attractive to farmers due to its low initial cost. But repair and
maintenance becomes a problem especially when replacement parts
are hard to find. Because these are imported, conditions for which
the machinery was designed may not be suitable to local
conditions.
R&D has a
bias against the development of appropriate machinery for small
farms. Scientists and engineers tend to create something that is
novel, without much regard to small farm applications. Development
of appropriate machinery for small farm applications is not as
well recognized and rewarding as creating a bigger, more complex
machine (Paras, 2005).
Low level of Manufacturing
Technology. According
to Tramat Mercantile Inc. (Ong, 1993), one of the constraints in
manufacturing equipment is lack of capital to produce fabrication
machines and quality products and procure raw materials. Hence,
most manufacturers are still in the “cut and weld” system.
This system limits the capability of our machinery manufacturers
in designing and fabricating machines, thereby affecting quality
workmanship for locally manufactured machines.
Inadequate shop
equipment, use of substandard materials, lack of skilled workers
and lack of training on machine fabrication further limit the
attainment of a high level of manufacturing system.
Low adoption
of improved postharvest technologies.
Several efforts have been exerted to design and develop
postharvest machineries specifically mechanical dryers appropriate
to local conditions and requirements. Mechanical dryers are
available in the country, both imported and locally fabricated,
and suitable to a wide range of capacities and systems. These have
been developed to increase labor productivity and efficiency in
certain postharvest activities but have not been adopted
extensively.
Inefficient
storage and transport systems including inadequate management and
control of storage pests and diseases. Studies
have been made that resulted in the development of several
technologies that are now being implemented in some grains storage
systems. These include improved technologies on outdoor storage,
peanut seed storage, some IPM strategies, bulk storage management
system, storage decision support system, stock warehouse
inventory, grain loss assessment tools and techniques and grains
admixture. Nonetheless, concerted efforts still need to be
expended to design better storage systems addressing the specific
needs of the various stakeholders and further develop viable
alternatives to chemical pest control methods using IPM (BPRE,
2003).
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